Starter Acting Up? Read This First!

For the past month or so randomly when I would go to start my truck it would just click or turn over one revolution and then like seize up. And I’d have to cycle the key again to get it to fire. Battery tested fine and after a night of sitting the battery would have 12.4 V, leaving me to think that the starter must be on its way out.

Finally I said we’ll before I spend $600 to have a new starter put in even though the battery passed multiple load tests and once I try starting it a few times it turns over great, I’ll just get a battery. New battery installed and Problem has completely gone away the truck starts every time and turns over faster then ever before.

So before you put a new starter in your truck thinking you might have a starter issue just throw a battery in and see if it fixes your rig.

Hope this helps someone

 

Good on ya! This has happened to me before as well. One other signal your batteries may be going dead is your truck alarm going off randonly. Its a sort of warning.

 

Oh wow yeah that wasn’t happening yet haha a guy I work with said he would assume that I had a shorted cell that would act up in the battery.

 

I’m on my 5th battery. The first two sent me the starter signals you experienced. Number 3 and 4 were the horn signal. Number 5 slow to ignite/turn over starter which would have ended in the same problem again as yours.

 

Thanks for posting this. My battery has a sticker showing 2/14. I'm imagining it's going to die any day now.

On this topic, why do some people opt for the the really expensive batteries?

 

With batteries generally you get what you pay for. However I bought a Bosch and it comes with a 3 year free replacement if it fails. I can’t believe how much a battery costs these days.

 

You’re telling me...

 

Fantastic batteries. I had dual 1400’s in my Tacoma and never had an issue starting, running a fridge, winching, ham radio, etc.

 

What advantages do these have? I see several people have posted pics of these recently.

 

http://blog.odysseybattery.com/2017...benefits-the-odyssey-battery-tppl-agm-design/

Plus they’re red and all the cool kids have them.

 

And they are basically free for life. Unless for some reason your battery lasts a really really realy long time. Any battery I’ve ever had lasts just past the warranty. Bosch has the pro rated post warranty. Took mine back and they put a new one in free a month after the 36 month expiry(Pep Boys). Installer said with the other brands I’d be paying for a new one.

Saw some of those non Bosch high dollar batteries ($350) at another store and parts guy told me they don’t move off the shelf. Been sitting there for over a year. They sound good for camping and exploration, but need lots of monitoring and recharging protocols?

 

Nope, just drive your vehicle regularly and they will stay charged, just like any other battery.

Most expo rigs that aren’t daily drivers are usually plugged into a battery tender if dormant for long periods of time.

 

Thanks for battery tip, I have always used Optima gel batteries out here in Colorado due to the rough roads I frequent. I had a wet cell for my first battery and the bouncing would shake the liquid out of it and cause a mess around the battery. Hence my decision to use expensive batteries and they always start great in the cold.

 

You definitely get what you pay for with the expensive ones.

 

I got 7 years out of my last battery that came with the tundra when I purchased it. replaced it with the same one and four years later no problems. still was running well when I traded for my 18.

 

I was going to buy a new battery tomorrow. I can get a Red Top Optima for $50 off. It's tempting. Pep Boys has their Bosch on sale for $110 though. Hard to justify twice the price for a battery.

 

As long as everything is apples to apples the Bosch wins with their warranty IMO. Free batterys for life in my case for half the price? Starts the engine for 3 years straight (hot cold alternating climate).

Disclaimer: Not sure of the other battery warranty versus what you want out of its electrical performance. You may want to camp out for a few days or light up a small city. Whats Optima post life warranty?

 

Every brand of battery I've looked at advertise free replacement within 3 years. I've had advance give me a free battery within that time. You're saying Bosch gave you a free one even after the 3 years?

 

Thats right. 3 years and 40 days.

Thats about what any 36 month battery lasts in my hot cold environment. They always die right after warranty. Service guy battery installer said the other batteries companies would be having me buy a new one. He said Bosch had the best warranty of them all.

Do your own research. Your needs may be better suited with the other batteries.

 

I buy the biggest Interstate battery that fits in the spot and keep my terminals clean. I used to take old Interstates, because people were told they needed a new battery and I would get 4-5 years out of those, but now I'm getting to old for that and just buy brand new.

 

Same here. I replaced my original OEM battery at seven years in my 07. Bought a Bosch branded non AGM24F battery at Pep Boys. Bosch doesn't make batteries. Huge mistake. Reserve sucked. I remember working on my truck for a couple hrs with only the radio on. Wouldn't turn over. Seriously! This happened a few times while working in the yard listening to my truck radio. switched Optima. No worries at all with my YellowTop.

 

You had a free battery for life. This is how I look at it with the Bosch. If what happened to your battery happened to me, then I’d take it back for a new free replacemement.

If you are camping and/or powering small cities then maybe the Optima is the way to go. When out of town, I prefer staying at the Ritz vs. camping so no need for the Optima. It boils down to how you use it.

 

True. It depends on use. I've got a few aftermarket lights and an electric winch now. I need proven reliability. A lifetime warranty won't do me any good with a dead battery up in the middle of nowhere. The Ritz sounds good by way!

 

Good advice Phil. It's always good to be sure. I hate wasting money!

 

BTW there are only a handful of actual battery manufactures, Bosh not being one of them, they just put there label on it. Interstate is a battery manufacture.

 

@REESE77

 

I just replaced a 7 year old interstate battery in my truck with a new interstate battery. Old one hadn't even failed yet, I just figured it was a good time to replace it.

$115 at costco.